explaingit

greensock/gsap

Analysis updated 2026-06-21

★ 24,593JavaScriptAudience · developerComplexity · 2/5LicenseSetup · easy

TLDR

A JavaScript library for creating smooth, high-performance web animations, scroll-triggered effects, morphing shapes, text reveals, and motion paths, that work consistently across all browsers and any JS framework.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((GSAP))
    What it does
      Smooth web animations
      Scroll-triggered effects
      Shape morphing
      Text reveals
    Plugins
      ScrollTrigger
      MorphSVG
      SplitText
      Motion Path
    Tech Stack
      JavaScript
      Any JS framework
    Use Cases
      Landing page effects
      Interactive UIs
      SVG animations
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Code map

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filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Animate elements into view as users scroll down a landing page using the ScrollTrigger plugin.

USE CASE 2

Morph an SVG icon from one shape to another on hover or click using the MorphSVG plugin.

USE CASE 3

Reveal headline text letter-by-letter or word-by-word for a dramatic entrance effect using SplitText.

USE CASE 4

Move a logo or character along a curved path during a page intro sequence with the Motion Path plugin.

What is it built with?

JavaScript

How does it compare?

greensock/gsapgoldbergyoni/javascript-testing-best-practicesmaboloshi/github-chinese
Stars24,59324,60124,738
LanguageJavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript
Setup difficultyeasyeasyeasy
Complexity2/52/52/5
Audiencedeveloperdeveloperdeveloper

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 5min
Free to use even for commercial projects, including all plugins that were previously paid, no subscription or license fee required.

In plain English

GSAP, the GreenSock Animation Platform, is a JavaScript library for creating smooth, high-performance animations on websites. If you have ever seen a webpage where elements glide into view as you scroll, text splits apart elegantly, or objects follow a curved path, there is a good chance GSAP was involved. At its core, GSAP works by smoothly updating values over time, things like an element's position, opacity, size, or color, far more reliably and efficiently than built-in browser animation tools. It is claimed to be up to 20 times faster than jQuery's animation methods and works consistently across all major browsers. The library includes optional plugins for specific use cases. The ScrollTrigger plugin ties animations to the user's scroll position. MorphSVG morphs one shape into another. SplitText lets you animate individual letters or words. Motion Path animates elements along a curved line. As of the library's latest update, all plugins including the previously paid ones are free to use, even commercially. GSAP works alongside any JavaScript framework, React, Vue, or plain HTML, and has zero dependencies. You would use it any time you need polished, precise, browser-compatible animations on the web.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Help me set up GSAP ScrollTrigger to animate a hero section fading in as the user scrolls down the page.
Prompt 2
Show me how to use GSAP to create a stagger animation where list items appear one after another on load.
Prompt 3
How do I use GSAP SplitText to animate each word of a heading sliding in from below?
Prompt 4
Build a GSAP timeline that sequences a logo appearing, text fading in, and a button bouncing into view.
Prompt 5
Show me how to animate an element along a curved SVG path using GSAP Motion Path plugin.

Frequently asked questions

What is gsap?

A JavaScript library for creating smooth, high-performance web animations, scroll-triggered effects, morphing shapes, text reveals, and motion paths, that work consistently across all browsers and any JS framework.

What language is gsap written in?

Mainly JavaScript. The stack also includes JavaScript.

What license does gsap use?

Free to use even for commercial projects, including all plugins that were previously paid, no subscription or license fee required.

How hard is gsap to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 5min to a first successful run.

Who is gsap for?

Mainly developer.

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